The moment Paige Bueckers’ W debut became official, we knew it. The Paige vs. Caitlin debates were coming in, and both fanbases were bracing for battle. Even before tipoff, Fever head coach Stephanie White perfectly captured the moment: “In my day, it was Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie. In their day, it’s Caitlin [Clark] and Paige [Bueckers],” she said. Earlier she had even said, “Everybody wants to see star players. You think about who tunes in to watch LeBron and Steph — it’s those kinds of matchups.”

Then came the long-anticipated first pro showdown between the two All-Stars. Their last meeting was a 2024 Final Four classic where Clark’s Iowa edged out Paige’s UConn in a thriller. This time, though, the head-to-head drama fizzled by the second quarter. Caitlin Clark’s Fever blew open the game and buried the rebuilding Wings 102–83. The win was decisive. However, the storyline is still very much active.

Because while Indiana got the dub, a few stat sheets floating around social media are sparking whispers that maybe Paige is actually having the better rookie season than Caitlin Clark. Just tonight, she became the only rookie this season with double-digit points in every game.

Let us break it down to you how the two 23-year-old No. 1 picks of the WNBA draft have been performing…

Paige Bueckers’ 2025 WNBA Rookie Season: Stat Profile & Highlights

Paige Bueckers has long lived by Theodore Roosevelt’s ideology about comparison being the thief of joy. Or in Paige’s words, “Comparison is the thief of joy. So it’s just focusing on myself, how I can better myself, how we can better the team, and just losing myself in others.” But when stars like A’ja Wilson start weighing in, comparisons become inevitable. “It’s just this pace and this rhythm that she plays with. I haven’t really seen it in a rookie in a minute,” said Wilson.

Read between the lines, and you’d spot a subtle ‘not even Caitlin Clark’. Moreover, when you stack Bueckers’ stat sheet next to Clark’s, you start to see what A’ja might be hinting at. So while Paige might dodge the spotlight of the discourse, her numbers are walking straight into it:

• In Wings’ matchup vs the Storm, Paige Bueckers became the fastest player in WNBA history to score 350 points and 100 assists in 20 games. (22nd July) (Clark got 300 points and 100 assists in 19 games)
• In their win vs. the Liberty, Bueckers became the only guard since 2006, to have recorded 20 or more points 10th time in a season. She reached this mark in just 21 career games, whereas it took Caitlin Clark 26 games to do so. (28th July)
• She became the only player this season to rank Top 10 in points per game, assist per game, and steals per game in the WNBA.
• She landed WNBA All-Star selection as a rookie.
• Bueckers notched several 20+ point games, equaling all other WNBA rookies combined in this mark.

Caitlin Clark’s 2024 WNBA Rookie Season: Stat Profile & Record-Setting Run

Caitlin Clark once reflected on the rookie grind: “Any rookie coming into this league, you experience the same thing… It’s all just really new. You’re starting a new chapter of your life and you’re trying to get your feet under you.” Safe to say, Clark’s chapter has been a page-turner. But how does it read when stacked against Paige Bueckers’ rookie résumé? Let’s find out:

• Caitlin Clark was the most popular #1 overall pick, unanimous WNBA Rookie of the Year winner and All-WNBA First Team.
• WNBA rookie records: assists (337), three-pointers made (122), fastest to 300 pts/100 asts by Game 19 until surpassed by Paige Bueckers.
• Clark had two triple-doubles, multiple 30+ point games, and she led Fever to first playoff appearance since 2016.
• Catlin Clark recorded most points scored for a rookie in WNBA single-season history, and second-most threes ever in a WNBA season (any player).
• She played every game in her rookie campaign, with high volume and usage.

Rookie Milestones: Efficiency, Usage, and Narratives in the Paige Bueckers vs. Caitlin Clark Debate

Paige Bueckers:

• Unmatched efficiency (FG% 45.5), fastest to points-assists dual threshold, highly consistent even though on a rebuilding team.
• Achieved All-Star recognition and is in the running for Rookie of the Year despite fewer games played.

Caitlin Clark:

• Set assist, three-point, and total scoring records amidst huge media attention.
• Heavily used as main playmaker, spurred a franchise turnaround and swept all major rookie accolades.

Finally, maybe the better perspective isn’t Paige vs. Caitlin, but Paige and Caitlin vs. the league. Because if you zoom out, what we’re really witnessing is two rookies rewriting the WNBA record books in entirely different ways.